Leak-detector eor pneumatic-tire valves



. LOKEY.

C. W LEAK DETECTOB FOR PNEUMATIC TIR E VALV ES.'

APPLICATION HLED APR. 3. 1 919.

Patented Aug. 19, 1919.

Wilt/um a m N 7 N NIB COLUMBIA nLANoal'lAPu 1.10., WASHINUTONfD. 1:,

CHARLES W. LOKEY, 0F IBI'RMING-H'AM, ALABAMA.

LEAK-DETECTOR FOR PNEUMATIC-TIRE VALVES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 19, 1919.

Application filed April 3, 1919. Serial No. 287,354.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES W. LOKEY, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Birmingham, in the county of Jefferson and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Leak-Detectors for Pneumatic- Tire Valves, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a leak detector for air valves of pneumatic tires.

The object of my invention is to design a very simple and inexpensive leak detector which will quickly and infallibly indicate any leakage past the air inlet valve of pneumatic tires.

My invention comprises a holder for an elastic diaphragm provided with a compressible marginal bead which is engaged by the holder and exposed so as to seat against and seal the jointbetween the diaphragm and the top of the valve stem.

My invention is illustrated in its preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 illustrates the ordinary valve stem broken away and shown with my improved leak detector applied thereto in vertical section taken on the line l-1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the device. 7

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

As illustrated in its simplest embodiment, I show a handle 1 formed preferably of stamped metal, though any other material may be employed, and. this handle is provided with a head 2 having a circular opening therein, the sides of the head being formed with down turned curved flanges which serve to embrace and hold the annular elastic bead 4 surrounding and attached to or formed integral with the base of the thin rubber diaphragm 5. While rubber is provided for the diaphragm and 1ts bead, it should be understood that any other suitable material may be employed. It will be noted that the curved side flanges 3 embrace only the sides of the bead and in doing so the flanges leave the under side of the bead sufliciently exposed to engage the top of the valve stem 6, thus leaving an anholder until the diaphragm is forcibly re-' moved and replaced by a new one. The diaphragm being assembled in the handle, it is only necessary to place the head 2 of the latter over the valve stem 7 so that the bead 4: will engage the top of the valve stem and being of like diameter therewith will form a packing for the joint, when the handle is pressed downwardly, which will cause any leakage of air to promptly indicate itself by expanding the diaphragm which normally takes the retracted or deflated position indicated in full lines, Fig. 3.

This invention is not intended to be restricted in scope to the specific embodiments shown, but contemplates such modifications as come within the spirit and scope of the claims.

Having thus described my invention, whatI claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A handle having an opening therein,'a flexible diaphragm having a marginal bead, and means to engage said bead to hold it in position against the underside of the handle with the diaphragm in position to expand through the opening in the handle.

2. A leak detector for tire valves comprising a stamped metal handle having at one end an enlarged opening and down turned flanges, in combination with a removable detector comprising a flexible diaphragm having an enlarged integral elastic bead surrounding its base, said bead at its sides being engaged by said flanges and held against the underface of the handle with the diaphragm in position to expand upwardly through the opening in the handle, substan tially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

' CHARLES W. LOKEY.

Witness: 7

NOMIE WELSH.

fiopies of this patent may be obtainedior five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0." 

